Ten key principles for digital school leaders are outlined, focusing on student outcomes, using data, understanding teacher interests, providing training, including stakeholders, being problem-focused, promoting teamwork and support, being aware of implications, and assessing plans. Seven habits of effective tech school leaders are also presented: creating an innovative atmosphere, fostering collaboration, being open to ideas, being a connected learner, providing adequate resources, taking risks, and having a visionary focus. Overall, digital school leaders must model technology use, communicate expectations clearly, provide professional development, support all staff, and champion a technology vision.

1. SKILLS AND
ATTRIBUTES
OF DIGITAL
LEADERS
DR. DIONNE N. CURBEAM
INSTRUCTOR

2. Ten Questions for School Leaders
• What are the technology trends I need to know about?
• What do I need to know about technology to move my school forward?
• What does the research say about schools and technology?
• Are there guidelines to help me?
• How do I know I have created effective policies and plans?
• How do I construct a safety net for technology in my school?
• How can I promote the integration of technology in my school?
• How much will all of this cost and where will I get the money?
• How do I work with technology experts?
• How do I measure success?
These questions will guide this class!

3. Technology is more than just for teaching and learning! As school
leaders, we must have a 360-degree perspective of technology
integration, not just technology usage!
Source: Eric Sheninger

4. Source: Quixy

5. Key Principles for Leaders to Know
1. Your major focus should be on student outcomes, the skills and knowledge acquired by learners.
2. Use appropriate data to develop and adjust program planning and implementation.
3. Be aware of your teacher and staff interests and the factors serving to motivate them.
4. Ensure that appropriate development and training are a major part of any technology plan.
5. Adult personnel must be a part of their learning process including utilization of previous
experiences, prior knowledge, and individual learning styles and choices.
6. Administration will need to be problem centered and utilize all available tools and strategies. As
well, to the maximum extent, include as many individuals in program development as possible.
7. Teamwork, mentoring, and support networks are key to professional development and training.
8. It is essential that technology planning and implementation be based on the student and
employee needs and not solely on your desires, preferences, and/or biases.
9. You need to be maximally aware of the social, legal, and ethical implications of decisions you
make.
10. Assessment and evaluation must be an integral component of your technology plan.

6. Seven Habits of
Highly Effective
Tech School
Leaders
Source: Jennifer Demski (2012)

7. Habit #1
Create an Atmosphere
That Inspires Innovation
Source: Jennifer Demski (2012)

8. Habit #2
Foster Collaboration
Source: Jennifer Demski (2012)

9. Habit #3
Be Open to New Ideas
Source: Jennifer Demski (2012)

10. Habit #4
Be a
Connected
Learner and
Leader
Source: Jennifer Demski (2012)

11. Habit #5
Locate and Provide Adequate
Resources
Source: Jennifer Demski (2012)

12. Habit #6
Take Risks

13. HABIT #7
Have a
Visionary
Focus
Source: Jennifer Demski (2012)

14. In Short…
1. School leaders must effectively and consistently model the use of the same
technology tools they expect teachers to use in their classrooms with the
students.
2. School leaders must be consistent in their decisions and expectations about
integrating learning technology in the school.
3. The school leader’s communication about the pace and process of integrating
learning technology needs to be clear and reasonable.
4. The school leader must provide appropriate professional development time and
resources to support effective classroom implementation of technology.
5. The school leader must support early adopters and risk takers, but not ignore
the late adopters.

15. In Short…
6. The school leader must do whatever it takes to ensure that all staff has early
access to the very same digital tools that students will be using in their
classrooms.
7. As the educational leader, make it clear to the technology leader that all
decisions relating to learning technology will be made by the educational
leaders with input from the technology leaders, not the other way around.
8. Set and support the expectation that student work will be done and stored
using technology.
9. Ensure that families and the public are kept informed about the school's goals
and progress relating to its use of technology as a learning resource.
10. Be an active and public champion for all students, staff members, and the
school in moving the vision of fully integrating learning technology for the
second decade of the 21st century.